Rob “Robby Bobby” Portman is an experienced Washington insider who served as a Congressman from Southwest Ohio for 12 years before joining the Bush Administration in 2005.
During his time in Congress, Portman supported the economic policies of President Bush, voting for tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 that disproportionally benefited the wealthy and voting to make the tax cuts permanent in 2002. Portman also fought to reward businesses that move jobs offshore, to give tax breaks to oil and gas companies, and to weaken House ethics rules.
Portman’s dedication to the Bush Administration has been widely recognized within the Washington community. Portman proudly earned a reputation as “one of the president's closest Republican friends in Congress” and was acknowledged for “frequently [being] called upon to shepherd Bush-backed legislation through the House” (The Associated Press, 3/29/03).
In 2005, President Bush appointed Portman as U.S. Trade Representative. During his tenure, one of Portman’s biggest accomplishments was persuading Congress to pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Although the U.S. Business and Industry Council warned that CAFTA would solely benefit corporations while gutting the American manufacturing base, Portman aggressively moved forward with this job-killing trade agreement. He described CAFTA as “even better than NAFTA”, promising that the United States would “have a trade surplus as a result.”
As Trade Representative, Portman was extremely successful at allowing America’s trade deficit with China to increase by billions of dollars. Under his watch, the U.S. trade deficit increased by $41 billion to $202 billion in 2005.”
In 2006, President Bush appointed Portman as Director of the Office of Management and Budget, where he successfully increased the deficit by several hundred billion dollars in two short years. When Portman became OMB Director, the U.S. budget deficit was about $250 billion for Fiscal Year 2006. Despite his missive from President Bush, the federal budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2008 was $454.8 billion, nearly double.
Through it all, Portman created a reputation as a loyal supporter of the Bush Administration. In fact, “it’s difficult to find a more faithful supporter than Rob Portman.” Portman currently resides in Terrace Park, Ohio, and is an attorney in private practice.
AWARDS
Portman Received the “Quintessential Washington Insider” Award
2003: “Rob Portman of Cincinnati, the House Republican leadership’s designated conduit to President Bush, is one of the few people in the current GOP hierarchy who can be labeled a quintessential Washington insider.” [CQ Weekly, 1/25/03]
Portman Named “Ohio’s Number One Bush Supporter”
2004: Rob Portman is “the Ohioan who carried the agenda of President Bush through the halls of Congress during the last four years.”[Toledo Blade, 11/21/04]
Portman Accepted “Bush Tax Cut Enthusiast of the Year” Award
2004: With “his enthusiastic support of Bush’s tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, Portman is a favorite of economic conservatives.” [Columbus Dispatch, 11/28/04]
Portman Received “Bush Most Trusted Advisor” Lifetime Achievement Award
2006: “For an administration that cherishes loyalty, it's difficult to find a more faithful supporter than Rob Portman.” [Associated Press, 4/18/06]
